The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Feb. 16, 2024
Today’s Script
(Variations occur with audio due to editing for time. Today’s Links below the script)
You’re listening to the American Democracy Minute, keeping YOUR government by and for the people.
Election security experts warned the country’s secretaries of state to take immediate steps to harden their election systems in both cities and rural precincts, and prepare for cyber and AI election interference from both foreign and domestic bad actors.
Stateline News reports that representatives from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, or CISA, and the Criminal, Cyber, Response, and Services Branch of the FBI, spoke at the winter meetings of the national associations of Secretaries of State and State Election Directors.
Attendees were warned of a heightened risk of election interference using cyber attacks from U.S. adversaries, including Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea. This includes the possibility of attacks on election and other infrastructure, including ransomware attacks. Fulton County, Georgia experienced such an attack in early January.
CISA announced new webpage last week called Protect2024, making recommendations to states and municipalities on hardening infrastructure.
Concerns were also raised about AI, which could make it easier to trick voters with misinformation, such as the fake Biden robocall in New Hampshire, or targeting legal immigrant citizens in their languages.
All this, in addition to continued threats of violence to election officials from homegrown domestic extremists. After fentanyl-laced letters were sent to election offices, officials were advised to have the overdose reversal drug Narcan available.
We have links to the Stateline News article at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl.
Today’s Links
Articles & Resources:
Stateline News – Feds deliver stark warnings to state election officials ahead of November
Associated Press – (2023) Election offices are sent envelopes with fentanyl or other substances. Authorities are investigating
Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) – New webpage: #Protect2024
National Association of Secretaries of State – NASS 2024 Winter Conference Highlights
National Association of State Election Directors – NASED Highlights Reminders for the 2024 Elections
Groups Taking Action:
Committee for Safe & Secure Elections, Brennan Center for Justice, Elections Infrastructure Information Sharing & Analysis Center, Issue One/National Council on Election Integrity
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